Algorithm for determining the feasibility of referring a patient for consultation with pediatric oncologist: results of implementation

Abstract

Actuality. Over the past decades, there has been a steady increase in the number of oncological diseases in children, most of which are detected at common stages. Moreover, only 5.2% of patients are actively detected (during routine preventive examinations).Material and methods. In order to detect oncological diseases in children in the early stages, an “Algorithm for determining the feasibility of referring a patient for consultation with a pediatric oncologist” (hereinafter referred to as the Algorithm) has been developed, which is a questionnaire of 20 questions. Answering with unambiguous answers (yes / no), a local pediatrician may decide on further tactics of examination and treatment of the patient. In order to analyze the results of the implementation of the Algorithm, a “Questionnaire for a local pediatrician to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the Algorithm for determining the feasibility of referring a patient for a consultation with a pediatric oncologist” has been developed, which consisted of 10 questions.Results. 427 district pediatricians took part in the medical and social study, taking into account stratification by federal districts of the Russian Federation: from the Central Federal District – 101 (23.6%) respondents, from the North-West Federal District – 40 (9.2%), from the Southern Federal District – 47 (10.9%), from the North Caucasus Federal District – 32 (7.7%), from the Volga Federal District – 92 (21.4%), from the Ural Federal District – 32 (7.7%), from the Siberian Federal District – 55 (12.9%) ), from the Far Eastern Federal District – 28 (6.6%). After the implementation of the Algorithm in clinical practice, the number of patients referred for consultation with a pediatric oncologist increased, which was noted by 61.9±2.4% of respondents. In this case, the Algorithm is used by 11.3±1.5% of the respondents, sometimes used by 12.6±1.6%, used if they are suspected of having an oncological disease by 21.9±2.0%. Among those who do not apply the Algorithm in clinical practice, 78.1±2.0% indicated that they had not received it before.Conclusion. A survey showed the feasibility of introducing into clinical practice the “Algorithm for determining the feasibility of referring a patient for consultation with a pediatric oncologist”.